A high-speed pursuit involving federal agents in St. Paul, Minnesota ended in a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning, drawing a large crowd of onlookers and sparking renewed controversy over immigration enforcement tactics.
According to the St. Paul Police Department, federal agents were pursuing a vehicle when it crashed at the intersection of Western and Selby avenues, a residential area just blocks from several ongoing protests tied to operations near the Whipple Federal Building.
Police say the person being chased sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by fire medics. The crash also involved at least three vehicles, including the pursued car and other bystanders’ cars, which sustained significant damage.
Video from the scene shows a red sedan being towed and debris scattered at the intersection as a crowd gathered, some shouting and recording the events on their phones. A number of bystanders expressed frustration and anger at the presence and tactics of ICE and other federal agents following recent immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities.
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her released a statement calling the incident an example of how ongoing federal operations “put residents at risk” and reiterated calls for an end to Operation Metro Surge, a coordinated federal enforcement effort in Minnesota. She also thanked local police for assisting at the crash scene and ensuring that those impacted received medical attention.
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not yet released an official statement about the pursuit, the crash, or the reported damage to bystanders’ vehicles.
As of now, investigators are still reviewing the incident, and further details are expected.
